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The 15 Best Green Tech Startups

Venture capital firms have invested nearly $20 billion into hundreds of green technology startups over the past five years, according to Greentech Media, a San-Francisco based research and media company.

But with only a few of these startups expected to make it, how can the best be separated from the rest? CNBC asked Greentech Media Editor-in-Chief Michael Kanellos which 15 should be on our radar.

The selection criteria included technological edge, potential to disrupt the market, quality of the management team, market opportunity, amount of funding and hype power. Click ahead to to see which 15 companies made the cut.

By Brooke SopelsaPosted 18 April 2010

Note: For some companies, the number of employees and venture capital total are approximate figures.